The City of Roanoke and VA811 announce that the American Public Works Association (APWA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter has selected the Blue Hills Communications Center project to receive an Honorable Mention for the 2021 APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s Project of the Year Award for the category of Structures $5-$25 Million. Each year, APWA presents the Public Works Projects of the Year awards to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects, recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the contractor, the consultant, and their cooperative achievements.
The Blue Hills Communications Center houses the City’s E-911 Center and the VA811 Contact Center. In addition to an innovative design to accommodate both agencies’ volume of calls and contacts, the project’s $15.7 million budget included upgrades to computer and radio systems. The City’s share of the Project budget was $9.4 million, while the portion attributable to Virginia Utility Protection Service was $6.3 million dollars. Staff in the City’s Engineering Division worked with Lionberger Construction, Balzer and Associates Architects, and other local partners on construction of the facility. In August 2020, the City of Roanoke and Virginia 811 (VA811) held a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Communications Center, located on Blue Hills Circle in the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology.
About the APWA
The American Public Works Association (APWA) serves professionals in all aspects of public works—a fact that sets it apart from other organizations and makes it an effective voice of public works throughout North America. With a worldwide membership more than 30,000 strong, APWA includes not only personnel from local, county, state/province, and federal agencies, but also private sector personnel who supply products and services to those professionals. More information is available at www.apwa.net.